America’s 23 million small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy. They produce half of the nation’s goods and services and create most of the new jobs, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. But not all Americans have enjoyed equal access to entrepreneurial opportunities. Historically, women and minorities have been less likely to own businesses. Their startups have tended to be smaller and less likely to survive, because of a lack of access to capital, and other challenges.
The good news is that the situation is changing fast. Recent U.S. Census data indicates that the number of firms owned by women is rising at twice the rate of all businesses; the number of minority-owned businesses is growing four times faster than the national rate.
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